Cardinals start 2-0, but their defense hasn’t found a reliable pass rush through two games. They’ve kept big plays in check by sitting in four-man fronts and playing coverage, yet they’re getting crushed on time-of-possession as offenses march with long drives. Offseason additions Baron Browning, Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson, Calais Campbell and the top pick Walter Nolen were designed to juice the rush, but the unit still must improvise to get off the field.

Two decisive early leads helped mask the defense’s lack of pressure, including a 24-point cushion against the Panthers after nine minutes in the third, and a late-third-two-score gap versus the Saints. If injuries to the secondary strike, the Cardinals will lean on nickel packages—forcing coaches Nick Rallis and Jonathan Gannon to press for more aggressive adjustments to avoid grinding down in clock-dominant games.

Miami heads to Buffalo as 12-point underdogs, the largest regular-season line of McDaniel's tenure, a testing backdrop for a season that started with a stumble. The matchup spotlights Miami's knack for staying competitive in tight spots even when dismissed, turning tough nights into potential turnarounds and setting the stage for a midseason push.

Past clashes with Buffalo—especially close losses and a 2022 playoff appearance with Skylar Thompson stepping in for Tua Tagovailoa—illustrate a blueprint: keep it tight, resist the blowout, and seize late-game chances. If history rhymes, a competitive showing could spark a tangible shift and a mini-upset narrative for fantasy and bets alike.

A veteran anchor in Calais Campbell and a willingness to ride this season out rather than cash out could frame the defense for a late surge. The path to relevance for fantasy managers rests on efficiency, a solid plan against Buffalo's defense, and the intangible momentum of an underdog story turning hopeful again.